Michael Jordan played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bulls and established himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. While his time with the organization was fruitful, winning six NBA championships and a countless number of individual accolades and records, it wasn't a secret how MJ clashed with the front office often, especially with the late Jerry Krause, the team's general manager during their glorious reign in the 1990s.
And so, to hear Jordan claim that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf was never his boss is completely unsurprising, given his approach to doing business.
Much like the creature the team he played for is named after, Jordan was difficult to rein in. Sure, he worked with head coach Phil Jackson, submitting himself to the intricacies of the triangle offense to bring the Bulls to the next level.
He also worked with fellow legends Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, forming a formidable trio on the court. However, Jordan never considered anyone to be above him, including management. Well, except for God himself.
Pressed for an explanation as to why he didn't think Reinsdorf is his boss, His Airness claimed that while the wealthy businessman signed the checks, he never controlled Jordan's actions on or off the court. He never did and never will.
"He pays me for the opportunity or the job that I do, but you know, I have a choice," Jordan expressed . "I can stop playing. I can stop and do whatever I want, and that's not a knock against him. You know, but that's the choice that I have. You know, which is freedom."
Jordan said he takes the same approach with the multitude of companies that he works with. From Nike to McDonald's to Gatorade, he considered them business partners, not his bosses. Mike noted that it's a symbiotic relationship in which they get exposure and he gets paid.
"We're all partners. You know, they get something, I get something. It's a partner thing here. So when you got a partner, no one's over the next, you know," MJ stated in the same interview.
"So, you know, why sit back and, you know, and argue about power plays, you know, if you can do something good for me, you know, hopefully in turns I can do something good for you. But, you know, don't tell me I got to do something, I got to do this, then I don't consider it a partnership," he added.
It's hardly surprising to learn that Jordan managed his business in this manner. After all, he was always his own man. Michael wasn't disruptive or disrespectful, but he always made sure his voice was heard and that he had his say in matters that affected him, whether it was how the Bulls ran their team or how Nike marketed his shoes.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
